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"Polar Vortex 2" breaks natural gas delivery records

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Consumers Energy says the winter of "Polar Vortex 2" broke some natural gas records. 

The utility broke its 1994 record for most natural gas delivered to homes and businesses in a 24 hour period. 

That was on February 19 and 20, when temperatures dropped to 20 below zero overnight. 

The utility's record for most natural gas delivered in an hour was also broken on the 20th, from 7 to 8 a.m. 

The cold will also bring bigger than normal bills. 

The utility is urging people to call it, or 211, if they need help paying a bill. 

Tracy Samilton covers energy and transportation, including the auto industry and the business response to climate change for Michigan Public. She began her career at Michigan Public as an intern, where she was promptly “bitten by the radio bug,” and never recovered.